People usually link traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a Chinese face. But when patients step into the small acupuncture clinic at the Confucius Institute of the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal, they find a Senegalese woman sitting in front of them.

This clinic is owned by Senegalese Malf Diop, a 29-year-old acupuncturist who is helping build up popularity of this TCM treatment at the Confucius Institute.

"The clinic is here to serve our people who are looking for a traditional way to cure their ailments," Diop told ChinAfrica, before relating the fascinating story of how she became an expert in this ancient Chinese science.

From Dakar to Beijing

In 2006, then 18-year-old Diop entered medical school at Cheikh Anta Diop University. A year later, thanks to her excellent academic performance, she received a scholarship from the Chinese Government to pursue her medical studies in China. It was not until she arrived in Beijing that she discovered the immense potential of TCM.

This discovery became a major turning point in the young woman's life, and she dedicated the next eight years to gain a thorough understanding of TCM before obtaining a master's degree in this field in July 2016.

According to her, more than just a science, TCM is firstly a philosophy. "The most important concept is the xuewei (specific acupuncture points on the body), which must be located precisely, before inserting needles. Acupuncture combines principles such as qi (internal energy), yin and yang (duality of life) and wuxing (the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth)," said Diop.

Senegal - just like many other African countries - has its own system of traditional medicine, the learning of which is based on oral transmission by elders. Although the teaching method remains less formal than that found in TCM which is taught in universities, traditional African medicine shares great similarities with TCM. Most notably is the use of medicinal herbs and the approach of identifying physiological ailments.

From theory to practice

Bearing the combined knowledge in mind, Diop, who describes herself as "the first Senegalese woman to have formal education of TCM in China," decided to return to Senegal and open her own clinic in November 2016.

Despite an initial wariness of the treatment from patients, she said that once they overcome their discomfort and doubts, they quickly experience the benefits.

According to Diop, most of her patients are aged between 25 and 76. Many of them suffer from joint pain, kidney problems, neuralgia and insomnia. In addition, an acupuncture session costs less than seeing a conventional doctor. "In fact, the two kinds of medicines are complementary to each other," she told ChinAfrica.

And what about her future plans? "My dream is to create the first university teaching TCM in Senegal. And I hope I can get help from China in this regard," she said.

Growing practice

While Diop can be considered as one of the pioneers of acupuncture in Senegal, other practitioners are also working in this respect, like 58-year-old Mor Sarr.

In 2007, while at the head of the Physiotherapy Department of Pikine Hospital, near Dakar, Sarr was introduced to acupuncture by his colleagues from the Chinese medical mission stationed at the hospital. The rapid and positive results seen in patients succeeded in convincing Sarr of the usefulness of acupuncture.

In 2009, he joined a group of 40 African doctors to study acupuncture at Shanxi University in north China. After three months of intensive training, Sarr returned to Senegal and began applying the methods he had learned in China.

Today, he practices acupuncture in his department in Pikine Hospital with a Chinese partner. "We treat an average of 20 patients a day. Some of them have had their symptoms for more than 10 years, but find that their condition improves as early as the first few acupuncture sessions. This creates a relationship of trust, which is fundamental to our practice," said Yan Shanghai, an acupuncturist and member of the Pikine-based Chinese medical mission, who works with Sarr.

In fact, Sarr is increasingly asked by young Senegalese where they can learn acupuncture. He tells them the best way to get this knowledge is to study it in China.